[Don Nguyen]

"I couldn't find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself" - Ferdinand Porsche

I bought my 964 when I was 20 years old. Probably not the best financial decision at the time, but I did it anyways. I knew nothing about Porsches, but after one test drive, I knew that this 964 had to be mine. Since then, there have been several times that I have come close to selling my 964. Whether the reason was due to lack of resources or not enough time to build and restore my 964 into the car that I had hoped and imagined it would be. However, luckily, I never went through with selling my 964, as it would have probably been my single biggest automotive decision that I would have regretted making. It's now or never.

I like Porsches, I like American V8s, and I like race cars. What am I alluding to?
Well, to simply put it, I will be taking my Porsche 964 and putting a Chevy LS based engine into it with the overall end results of a streetable race car. Because what fun, really, is a car that can't be driven whenever you wanted to.

However, to me speed is only one part of the equation. The car's going to take on styling cues of a race car from the exterior, but have a relatively tolerable and factory-esque interior, aside from a few various interior race bits here and there. I like to think of it as a wolf in wolf's clothing. Sounds wrong in every way? Sounds perfect to me. Speed, handling, styling, and comfort. The best part about building a car how you want it is that there is no bad part.

Why? I will only answer this question once. Because.

No fancy tools, no fancy garage, no team of engineers. One man, one car, and countless hours spent doing research. I will be doing as much of the fabrication myself as possible, from building the engine mounts to redoing all of the leather work on the interior.

I can go into details and tell you all of my plans and ideas for the car, but what fun would that be if I told you everything upfront and didn't leave a little bit of mystery to it. As I was always taught, show, not tell. You'll just have to tune in and watch as the progress goes along.

I am not trying to build the best car in the world, but to build my perfect car, which to me makes it the best car in the world.

Smiley face,
Don Nguyen

[Don Nguyen]

This is how the car looked like when I first bought it. These pictures were actually taken from the original ad that were used by the previous owner. Funny thing is, I actually did not remember saving these pictures, but I randomly happen to stumble across them the other day when looking for something else.





It took me only one week of searching to find my 964 and it took me only one more week after that before I put in an order for a set of coilovers for my car. I figured why wait to buy them, when I could buy them now and enjoy it right away.







This is ultimately what the car last looked like before I decided to put it up on jack stands and start the reconstruction process. Keep in mind, all of these pictures that I have posted thus far, including this one, are from over a span of several several years.



As of yesterday, this is how the car looked like. I actually had started taking the car apart before I decided that I would take pictures and document my build. I was never really one to start or have any detailed build threads for any of my other project cars, but I felt like this is one that I would share the process and progress as it goes along with you guys.







-Don

[BMW F22]

Cool! How does it ride?

[pimp4cheddar]

My wife won't let me buy a 964... I'm now considering the upsides of being single.

My next car for sure will be a 964 or 993. I really do love the 964's though...I will be checking this out daily!!!

[kevinbahnz]

Best of luck Donnie, Can't wait to see the finished product. One day when my kids are off to college I divorce the wife and sell the house and buy me a porsche, lolz

[DSB335d]

Very cool!! A guy I used to work with had a 944 that he put a 350 small block Chevy into it; made 425hp. He used to auto cross it here in WPB @ Moroso.
The 944 doesn't look nearly as cool as yours though
Good luck with your project.

[ErvGotti]

Good luck looks like it's gonna be an awesome build. And the LS is one of the easier engines to make reliable monster power for cheap, if that's what your going for.

[Don Nguyen]

Originally Posted by BMW E90

Cool! How does it ride?

Soft with the current coilovers, but I have a set of Moton Motorsports on their way to replace my current set up.

Originally Posted by pimp4cheddar

My wife won't let me buy a 964... I'm now considering the upsides of being single.

My next car for sure will be a 964 or 993. I really do love the 964's though...I will be checking this out daily!!!

Do it. You won't regret it. My Porsche is easily one of my favorite cars to drive. I prefer the 964 body style over the 993. I just like the more defined lines. However, the 993 turbo is my overall favorite. I am picky, haha.

Originally Posted by kevinbahnz

Best of luck Donnie, Can't wait to see the finished product. One day when my kids are off to college I divorce the wife and sell the house and buy me a porsche, lolz

Thanks. That's why I am doing all of this before having to worry about all of that

Originally Posted by DSB335d

Very cool!! A guy I used to work with had a 944 that he put a 350 small block Chevy into it; made 425hp. He used to auto cross it here in WPB @ Moroso.
The 944 doesn't look nearly as cool as yours though
Good luck with your project.

I've seen those swaps. It's actually a fairly common swap from what I have seen for 944s.

Originally Posted by ErvGotti

Good luck looks like it's gonna be an awesome build. And the LS is one of the easier engines to make reliable monster power for cheap, if that's what your going for.

Thanks. I am definitely a fan of the LS engine. I have one in my M3 as well.

-Don

[amanda hor$t]

dude i didn't even know that was possible (v8 in a boxer-designed car). if so i might just do that with a plain jane 986... would make a killer sleeper

[Comet]

Originally Posted by Don Nguyen

I like Porsches, I like American V8s, and I like race cars.

You don't like Porsches or race cars.
A Porsche is a race car.
If you liked race cars and Porsches you'd leave their perfection untouched. You own an air cooled precision machine and you want to add a bulky V8 to it?
Do you realize what that will do to the handling?

You just like big straight muscle car power and want to be able to say you own a Porsche to the women you talk to.

As a Porsche driver, I am disgusted by your abomination.

However, to me speed is only one part of the equation. The car's going to take on styling cues of a race car from the exterior, but have a relatively tolerable and factory-esque interior, aside from a few various interior race bits here and there. I like to think of it as a wolf in wolf's clothing. Sounds wrong in every way? Sounds perfect to me. Speed, handling, styling, and comfort.

a Porsche is a street legal race car by design (excluding the 991). It doesn't need race car styling cues, it is a race car. You can buy one and slap it on a track. Your V8 will make the handling completely out of whack.

Whatever you do, don't show up to any Porsche meets, you'll be laughed at.

[DrivenByE30]

Dude you're crazy !!!

The kind of crazy i wish i'm inflicted with too

I will be living vicariously thru this thread...

i'll buy you banh mi or pho one day

[montreal red]

awesome project!! keep this thread updated with your progress

[135Pats]

It’s not what I’d do with a Porsche but I applaud the ambition, it’s what you want out of the car so go for it! BTW those 996tt wheels+your 964=sexy time.

[PSUSMU]

Originally Posted by Comet

You don't like Porsches or race cars.
A Porsche is a race car.
If you liked race cars and Porsches you'd leave their perfection untouched. You own an air cooled precision machine and you want to add a bulky V8 to it?
Do you realize what that will do to the handling?

You just like big straight muscle car power and want to be able to say you own a Porsche to the women you talk to.

As a Porsche driver, I am disgusted by your abomination.


a Porsche is a street legal race car by design (excluding the 991). It doesn't need race car styling cues, it is a race car. You can buy one and slap it on a track. Your V8 will make the handling completely out of whack.

Whatever you do, don't show up to any Porsche meets, you'll be laughed at.

Although I agree that this is very, very, dumb, LS1 vs. Carrera 3.2 weight is probably only 30-40lb difference (LS1 might even be lighter.. aluminum block).

Only a not-true Porsche enthusiast would do something like this. Leave the car alone.

[Red Bread]

Dear Lord, we're talking about a 964, not a 993 or a 959 people. Do what you want with it, it will be no worse than a 964.

[MisterSkiMask]

this concerns me...but I will be watching.

[escobar929]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

It’s not what I’d do with a Porsche but I applaud the ambition, it’s what you want out of the car so go for it! BTW those 996tt wheels+your 964=sexy time.

well said, fully agree

[MisterSkiMask]

"Reduced weight of the LS Series is also a HUGE advantage over the "big" 911 motors. Weighing less than a completely dressed 3.0L NA motor, the LS Series has turbo performance with much less than turbo six weight. With less weight in the rear and more power under your right foot, you can see why a converted 911 is so much fun to drive."

http://www.renegadehybrids.com/

Again, I can't condone this, but its been done

[carve]

I've heard of these conversions. It'd be especially interesting if you could move the engine forward to have better balance. What do you do about the transmission though?

[iBoost]

in!

[asdflkijd]

my face cringed a little when I read V8... Good luck man. Subscribed nonetheless.

[turo]

Awesome project, I'll definitely be following your progress with great interest! Makes me miss my old LS1 Camaro SS, that thing was a beast. I've seen quite a few LSX-powered Porsches down in FL where my parents live, if done right it will make for one HELL of a fast ride!

Which engine in the LSX family are you looking to try and get? An LS7 would be beyond wicked!